Ford Philippines is taking the thrill of test driving to the South as the Ford Island Conquest (FIC) heads to Ayala Malls Solenad this weekend.

Now on its eighth year, the FIC roadshow gives everyone a chance to explore Ford’s latest lineup and this time, it includes the all-electric Mustang Mach-E and the new Everest Wildtrak.

From the rugged Bronco to the Ranger Raptor 3.0L V6 and Territory Hybrid Titanium X, the display area will showcase Ford’s most exciting vehicles yet.

Visitors can also get behind the wheel and experience their power and tech firsthand, including the Mach-E’s instant torque and smooth electric drive.

Customers who reserve a Ford during the 3-day event can enjoy up to PhP 120,000 in total cash savings. That’s a PhP 20,000 outright discount plus a chance to pick a prize worth as much as PhP 100,000 on top of existing promos this month.

Free refreshments and exclusive Ford merchandise are also waiting for those who test drive or reserve on-site.

This month’s FIC leg also runs alongside Ford’s Employee Pricing Program, where buyers can enjoy special deals such as up to PhP 130,000 off the Everest, PhP 700,000 off the Explorer, and PhP 600,000 off the Bronco, or choose low down payment and 0% interest options available until October 31, 2025.

The Ford Island Conquest at Ayala Malls Solenad is open from 11AM to 9PM on October 17 and 10AM to 9PM on October 18–19. Admission is free.

Green GSM and Xentro Group have partnered to boost the all-electric ride-hailing scene in the Philippines even further.

The collaboration involves Green GSM, which is the brand of GSM’s ride-hailing fleet, and AMRC Renewable Corporation/Xentro Motors from the Philippines.

The latter is a subsidiary of the Xentro Group of Companies.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Green GSM will supply 2,000 VinFast electric vehicles to support future operations under the Green GSM platform.

A thousand units have already been secured and the remaining half is expected to be delivered within two years.

The fleet will operate under the co-branding Green Xentro powered by Green GSM. In case you missed it, Green GSM has been in operation in the Philippines for a few months now, utilizing VinFast EVs for ride-hailing across Metro Manila.

Following the completion of all necessary regulatory and accreditation processes, the fleet is expected to cater to even more major urban areas.

The Green Xentro fleet will showcase Green GSM’s signature cyan color and follow eco-friendly standards.

Known for their quiet operation, zero tailpipe emissions, and comfortable interiors, VinFast electric vehicles aim to offer passengers a cleaner and more enjoyable ride.

In addition, Green GSM is developing a partner-based operational approach to increase EV adoption while fully complying with local regulations.

AMRC Renewable Corp/Xentro Motors viewed this collaboration as an opportunity to contribute to the country’s growing sustainable transportation movement.

Once all approvals are secured, the fleet will begin operations under the Green GSM platform.

For their side, the Xentro Group of Companies will let Xentro Malls nationwide offer accessible pick-up zones, EV charging stations, and parking areas.

Of course, the partnership will also benefit from VinFast’s service ecosystem. This includes fleet maintenance, charging infrastructure, and driver support.

I never realized I’d love learning and testing cars, at least not until a rally driver sat beside me during a slalom run, speaking words that would calm even the most restless heart.

“Don’t worry about the cones,” he said as I wobbled through my first lap. And when I drifted into something close to perfection, he whispered “you’re good” more times than I deserved.

Those words stuck more than the speed, and definitely more than the skid marks.

This wasn’t in my bingo card. After winning at the 24th Henry Ford Awards, I thought I’d already said my parting words to automotive coverage.

I poured myself into a passion project tied to my life as an endurance athlete, and when that wrapped, I thought I’d simply move on.

Yet here I was, in Zhengzhou, China — invited by ACMobility — to witness BYD’s first all-terrain circuit, one of the first in the country built exclusively for new energy vehicles.

Arriving at a playground built for new energy vehicles

It was a cold Thursday morning when I boarded a bus to the circuit. The ride stretched over an hour, the kind that lulls you into a half-sleep, half-reverie.

My head bobbed against the window, eyes occasionally opening to marvel at the changing landscape outside. Blue skies meeting industrial romance.

When we finally arrived, I was greeted not just by the sheer expanse of the All-Terrain Circuit but also by the stars of the day: the BYD eMax 9 and Sealion 8, parked like models awaiting their cue.

Before diving into the schedule, I warmed myself with a familiar oatmilk latte from the BYD Café and gawked at the base version of the Yangwang U9 — one of the world’s fastest production car — gleaming under the lights as if to remind us that speed, too, can be art.

We were told the facility housed eight experience zones, each a playground for machines and a test of our courage. And with that, the adventure began.

The world’s tallest artificial dune, now a test track

The first stop was the Indoor Sand Dune, a 29.6-meter vertical drop with a 28-degree slope, certified by Guinness World Records as the highest and largest dune-climbing facility in existence.

Constructed with 6,200 tons of sand, it was designed to mimic the Alxa Desert. Watching the Yangwang U8 command the terrain was nothing short of cinematic. Its wheels tore through the sand with authority, moving like a predator that knew no fear.

We didn’t get to try it ourselves, but my mind drifted to the dunes of Ilocos back home. I wondered how it would feel to tame our own desert with a machine like this, if the U8 ever makes its way to Philippine shores.

What driving through water looks like in the future

The Yangwang U8 returned to center stage at the Wading Pool, a 70-meter stretch of water that felt more like a flood zone than a testing ground.

Through the underwater glass, we watched the vehicle maneuver forward, reverse, and even turn while afloat, all thanks to BYD’s E4 platform.

It was an eerie yet comforting sight, technology meeting something similar to a calamity head-on. In a country like ours, where typhoons strike as often as heartbreaks, such a feature could be a lifeline.

For a moment, I wasn’t just watching a demo; I was imagining families safe inside, crossing flooded streets with grace instead of fear.

Riding shotgun in one of the fastest production cars in the world

Then, came the Yangwang U9. On paper, it’s a beast with 1,290 horsepower and 960 kilowatts. In reality, it was an experience that rewrote my understanding of speed.

I strapped myself in, buff and helmet in place, choosing the Moonlight Stone colorway with interiors in regal purple, which perfectly matched my lavender Nike jacket.

The acceleration was like a trail run on steroids. The heartbeat I feel when descending a mountain trail — reckless yet alive — was the same beat that coursed through me as the U9 devoured the 1,758-meter track with its nine curves and long straight stretch.

The seats hugged me like a co-conspirator, keeping me steady even as the world outside blurred. I didn’t even realize how fast we were going until I glanced at the dashboard.

Fear and euphoria danced together in my chest. Now, I get the high and adrenaline from racing cars.

Learning to let go while machines take over

The off-road testing area spanned 27 scenarios, though time only allowed us to try the Fangchengbao Bao 5 in the junior section.

Still, it was enough to excite me. The car climbed 27-degree slopes, crawled down stairways (and not feel anything), and tiptoed over rocks as if they were pebbles.

I had to fight the instinct to control everything. But these machines were designed to carry you safely even when your nerves frayed.

It was a strange kind of intimacy and learning to surrender. I realized that sometimes, letting go is the only way forward.

Drifting in circles I had no business being in

At the heart of the circuit lay a 15,300-square-meter dynamic paddock, our next stop.

The Kick-Plate simulated icy roads, throwing the car into sudden skids while professional drivers demonstrated how NEV safety systems took over with precision.

It was held in a controlled emergency situation, simulating scenarios we pray never happen but feel grateful to be prepared for.

Later, I took the Denza Z9 GT onto the Low Friction Circle, a 44-meter-diameter track laid with 30,000 basalt bricks covered in water. I had no business drifting — let alone in front of a crowd of seasoned drivers — but BYD’s millisecond-level control and Drift Mode made it possible.

For a few seconds, I found flow, spinning in rhythm with the machine. Until the instructor told me to “maintain,” and pressure snapped me out of it, spinning me like I was in a film getting in an accident.

My knees were shaking when I stepped out, equal parts embarrassed and exhilarated.

How a slalom course became my favorite part

What surprised me most was how much I loved the slalom. Maybe it’s because obstacles have always defined my life, on and off the Spartan course.

Driving the BYD Seal EV through cones and curves felt oddly personal. I wasn’t the best.

I hit cones and I apologized to the rally driver guiding me. Yet when I drifted through U-turns and roundabouts, something familiar sparked in me.

It reminded me of growing up on highways filled with those very curves, sneaking in practice at midnight when no one was watching.

This time, though, the sun was setting, and the moment felt bigger. The course ended not just with applause but with reflection. Life, like a slalom, is about moving through obstacles with grace, even when you stumble

The bigger dream behind the Zhengzhou circuit

The BYD Zhengzhou All-Terrain Circuit is more than a playground. It’s a vision of what driving could become in an age of new energy vehicles.

It democratizes technology, making once-distant innovations something you can touch, feel, and experience.

Soon, another BYD circuit will rise in Shaoxing, with a sprawling off-road area set 500 meters above sea level.

Alongside CAMF, BYD is also launching the “New Track Scheme,” a program meant to cultivate 100 professional racers and introduce racing culture to more people.

As I left the circuit, lavender jacket still smelling faintly of rubber and adrenaline, I realized that this wasn’t about cars alone.

It was about rediscovering joy in places I never thought I’d find it. Maybe that’s what the road ahead is about. Not just speed or power, but new ways of dreaming.